Debt dispute sparks armed George Town school fight, police arrest 13 suspects including minors

GEORGE TOWN, Aug 30 — Police have arrested 13 male suspects, including three minors, to assist in investigations into a violent brawl involving weapons that occurred in front of Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) Kong Min branch in Air Itam here early yesterday.

Penang police chief Datuk Dennis Lim said all the suspects, aged between 16 and 33, were arrested in five raids across the state through an operation conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department’s Vice, Gambling and Secret Societies Division (D7) of the Penang Police Headquarters, together with the Northeast District Police Headquarters Criminal Investigation Division and with assistance from the Central Police Station.

“All the suspects, including the three minors, were arrested under the joint operation, held from 8.19pm yesterday until 4.22am today, with those detained including a student, two unemployed individuals and several workers from the food delivery and transport sectors.

“Investigations are ongoing and the case is being probed under sections 148 and 326 of the Penal Code. The investigation papers will be completed before being referred to the Deputy Public Prosecutor for further instructions,” he said in a statement today.

He said investigations found that the incident occurred at about 2.45am yesterday, with the armed brawl involving two primary targets aged 17 and 25, adding that it was believed to have stemmed from a debt dispute following a meeting between several individuals at a food court in Kota Bali, Paya Terubong here.

Lim said police were also investigating a vehicle that allegedly struck one of the victims during the brawl, inflicting injuries.

He said that as a preventive measure, police would step up patrols and monitoring at high-risk locations, enhance intelligence gathering and conduct targeted operations to curb group fights and violent crimes.

“Those with information regarding the incident are urged to contact investigating officer Insp Nurul Izzati Rohim at 013-4092884 or the nearest police station,” he added, while urging the public not to speculate or circulate the identities of the minors involved.

He also advised the public against taking the law into their own hands or resorting to violence to settle disputes.

Lim added that police would also consider action under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA) if investigations found the offences met the requirements for its application. — Bernama